Geography

Vienna is situated in the North-East of Austria
and lies on the banks of the majestic Danube river. Surrounded by
the natural beauty of the Wachau region, the Vienna woods ('Wiener
Wald') and with numerous green expanses and parks Vienna is
an exceptionally agreeable city.

Population

As a result of Vienna being the capital of
Austria and totally in keeping with the international traditions of the Habsburg
empire its population is highly diverse. Even though birthrates
are not particularly high, the Viennese population is continually growing
due to an influx from both inside and outside of Austria. While Austria
as a whole reports an average 73% of its population as Roman Catholics, this percentage
drops to 50% in Vienna. This is partly due to immigration, but mostly
due to the secular nature that generally characterizes urban centres.
Currently, approximately 20% of Austria's population live in Vienna.

'Wiener Schmäh' - Viennese charm

The Viennese gift of the gab is proverbial. It
consists of an odd mixture of charm, flattery, puns and open rudeness
which is highly refeshing. Tune in to local dialects when you stroll
through Vienna - it is worth it!
For those who don't already know: The language spoken in Austria is pure
and correct German.

Weather & Climate

The Danube Valley
and Vienna Basin are rather dry and influenced by the weather of continental
Europe. Cold winds from Eastern Europe and Russia can lower winter
temperatures signifcantly, whereas summer is generally hot and dry.
A sunny autumn day with its coloured leaves can be spectacular.
However, Upper and lower Austria can also be rather foggy.

Best time to visit

With a busy cultural calender and numerous
sights Vienna is a year-round destination. Some institutions
like the Vienna Boys' Choir,
Spanish Riding School and
some theater houses take a summer break but summer specific events
like open air cinemas and festivals compensate for this.